| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| সিমলায় অনুষ্ঠিত সর্বভারত কংগ্রেস কমিটির অধিবেশনে পররাষ্ট্রমন্ত্রীর ভাষণ | ভারত সরকারের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ৮ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ |
Foreign Minister Sardar Swaran Singh’s speech at the All India Congress
Committee Session at Simla October 8, 1971
I am extremely grateful to the members of the, A.I.C.C. who have unanimously and whole-heartedly endorsed the Indo-U.S.S.R Treaty. As ours a political body, therefore, apart from the general approval and full endorsement, it is necessary for us on an occasion like this to understand clearly the contents of such a far-reaching document and also the various important ideas which have been concretized in this Treaty. I would like to consider this Treaty as comprising four important aspects and elements. First and foremost, it is agreed by the two countries that they will constantly, assiduously and energetically work for elimination of remnants of colonialism and for ending the racist regimes wherever they are. This is a very important joint declaration which is contained in the Treaty. The House is, no doubt, aware that still large portions of the world are under colonial domination and racist regimes. The Portuguese colonial rule still pervades under colonial domination and racist regimes. The Portuguese Guinea. Racist regimes are still flourishing notwithstanding the unanimous resolution adopted by the United Nations in its various organs-in South Africa, in Namibia and also in Rhodesia. It has always been the ideal of our great Organization-the Congress-to work for elimination of colonialism and for ending racist regimes. This posture of ours was however not adopted after Independence, but this has been our objective even before Independence, and the Congress organization always raised their voice in a very effective manner against colonialism and, in fact, the Father of the nation Mahatma Ji, started his early political activity in South Africa itself. It is a matter of regret and a matter of misfortune that South Africa still continues to practice apartheid under a racist regime. Determination of two countries like Soviet Union and India to end the remnants of colonialism and racism is an important article which is contained in the Treaty.
Another important concept in the Treaty is the Soviet Union’s acceptance of the policy of non-alignment which is being pursued by India. It is surprising that some people, at any rate in the initial stages, did raise a voice of criticism saying that this Treaty compromises India’s policy of non-alignment. If a careful scrutiny of this criticism is made, both from inside the country or from certain quarters abroad, it will be clear that generally this criticism has come not from any non-aligned country, but from countries which themselves are aligned and are members of military pacts. It is interesting that on India’s signing this Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Co-operation with Soviet Union the love for non-alignment should suddenly spring in the hearts of those people who themselves and their countries are members of military pacts and defense pacts. This Treaty in actual terms specifically says that the Soviet Union respects India’s policy of
